GOOD speech by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
30 March 2022
Note to editor: This speech was delivered by GOOD Secretary-General, Brett Herron, during the debate on the Motion of No Confidence into the Cabinet today in Parliament.
Speaker,
Political parties the world over, that win elections, apply a complicated set of formulae to the composition of the governments they lead.
The proposers of this motion are no exception.
Competence and loyalty are often key factors in these considerations. But so are a range other things such as geographic, cultural, racial, age and gender inclusivity.
Of course we should demand that members of executives are people of integrity.
But integrity is difficult to gauge in a country plagued by so many allegations that are very seldom proven in court.
The point is, it is rare that members of governing executives are universally perceived as of unimpeachable character and exceptional giftedness.
It’s a fantasy that Cabinets are formed on the basis of the nation’s best doctor becoming Minister of Health, and the most qualified economist becoming the Minister of Finance.
If that was the case, why is Anthony Fauci not Secretary of Health in the US?
Why is Usain Bolt not Minister of Sport in Jamaica?
And what made Albert Fritz, who ran a sex-for-jobs-scheme, fit for purpose to serve as the Western Cape’s MEC for Community Safety?
The real issue standing between us and integrity isn’t the right of the President to appoint an executive.
It is the extent to which the criminal justice system has acted to rid the country’s democratically elected leadership of its allegedly corrupt elements.
Failures to prosecute have directly contributed to the crisis of impunity that bedevils all levels and sectors of society today.
We wouldn’t need motions of no confidence if we had enough criminal investigative and prosecutorial progress.
We wouldn’t need motions because those against whom allegations are made would either have been convicted or exonerated by our courts.
It needn’t be complicated. Politicians accused of breaking the law must be investigated, tried and sent to prison, not to Parliament, if convicted.
For how many years must we refer to the corrupt as “allegedly” corrupt?
GOOD would support any constructive motion to strengthen our criminal justice system – its investigating capacity and its prosecuting capacity.
It is critical for us to demonstrate that there are consequences for wrongdoing.
But we don’t support motions designed purely to create platforms for public theatre.
It is said that in a democracy people get the government they deserve.
In a country with universal franchise that holds regular free and fair elections, it’s difficult to argue that a government does not represent the will of the people. At least, until the next election.
But in South Africa some like to do things differently.
Here, when minority parties can’t convince the majority of people to vote for them in elections they seek alternative means to influence the composition of the executive.
The President chooses his Cabinet. If he keeps those who are guilty of corruption or incompetence then voters will know what to do in 2024.
For it is the voters, in a democracy, who hold the ultimate power and must live with the consequences of their decisions.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 0825183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za